Some representatives from smaller browser companies also expressed that they wanted more information included in Apple’s choosing process, such as definitions of what a browser is for less tech-savvy users and descriptions of different browser specialties. “Giving people information about the choice and also information about what they are choosing is really important,” says Kush Amlani, global competition and regulatory counsel at Mozillawhich makes the Firefox browser.
Sophie Dembinski, head of public policy and climate action at Ecosia, mentioned how Apple’s pop-up appears for all iPhone users, even if they’ve already gone into their phone’s settings and set an alternative browser as the default. By comparison, the Google browser choice screen for Android users won’t appear if you’ve already followed the steps to set a preference for a third-party option.
While many developers are unhappy with Apple’s implementation, not all companies with an on-screen browser of choice expressed frustration. “We believe Apple’s approach to introducing the browser choice screen is fair and acceptable,” said Andrew Moroz Frost, the Aloha Browser founder. He pointed to the random order of browsers displayed in the pop-up as an example of how Apple designed it fairly.
Richard Socher, founder and CEO of you.com, seemed more encouraged by the existence of a browser choice screen that includes search-focused startup rather than frustrated by Apple’s implementation. “I think it’s great that there isn’t a default value already pre-selected,” he says. Socher also highlighted the random order as a positive sign.
Is this choice Will this be a real turning point for alternative browsers to increase their user base? “We hope to have a clear picture of user growth in a few months, not weeks,” says Dembinski. While some browsers reported initial increases in downloadsIt still seems too early to make sweeping generalizations about the long-term effectiveness of Apple’s display of choice.
“We would like to encourage platform providers to also level the playing field for app developers around the world, not just in the EU,” said Jan Standal, vice president of product marketing at Opera. Some of the companies WIRED spoke to remain hopeful that the precedent of browser choice screens set by the DMA will inspire international software changes.
Shortly after the release of Apple’s choice display, the The European Commission announced that the screen would be part of its broader investigation into how Apple, Google and Meta could be violating these updated regulations: “The Commission is concerned that Apple’s measures, including the design of the web browser choice screen, may be preventing users from truly exercising their choice of services within the Apple ecosystem, in contravention of Article 6(3) of the WFD.” In keeping with their slow tradition, this research can take up to a year to complete.
